Demon Scroll

by Tim Niederriter

  “What is that supposed to mean?” said Elaine. “I know how to control myself.”

  “Well if the boot squeaks,” said Melissa. “I've never met anyone who seems so erratic.”

  “Erratic? I’m not erratic!” Elaine scowled at Melissa.

  “You’re erratic. Settled.” Melissa grimaced. “I think you're the most erratic person I’ve yet encountered in my life.”

  “I’ll take that to mean you’ve grown comfortable enough to criticize a noblewoman.”

  “So you’ll play that card now? I suppose I have. Thanks.”

  “Melissa,” said Niu, “please give it a rest.”

  Melissa nodded to Niu.

  “All right.” She turned to Elaine. “One last thing. Stop acting like you're in charge. Even though you aren’t trying to act like you're in charge.”

  “What does that even mean?” asked Elaine.

  “Means I'm sick of having to put up with your innocent act,” said Melissa. “You’re almost a full witch, so act like one. Scheme if you need to scheme but don't go around acting like you're just some naïve girl.”

  Elaine grunted.

  “Sorry,” she said. “I...”

  “Okay, so maybe you are just lonely,” said Melissa. “Maybe that doesn’t matter.”

  Elaine sputtered as Melissa walked past her. Melissa fumed as she climbed the stairs to reach her chambers. Her footsteps rang in the hallways, attracting attention from not only the servants but also the birds on the windowsills. She slammed her door and sat on the bed.

  I shouldn’t be so angry. She shouldn’t have pushed me. I didn’t even realize how tense I must have been. She put her face in her hands. The door creaked open. Melissa looked up to see Elaine.

  Melissa and Elaine sat in silence for some time, and while they did, Melissa let a strange sensation of forgiveness and shame wash over her. She had taken her dislike of Elaine too far in her outburst. Now, she owed the noblewoman an apology.

  An apology? Melissa shook her head at the thought. She had nothing to offer to apologize to someone who already had everything she could want.

  Elaine sat in the chair, the same one Deckard occupied when Melissa had awakened in the palace. She had taken the chair with her from the previous room, having liked the seat. She wondered if it would be returned when she left the palace, but she liked the chair for the moment. The chair was nothing like Elaine.

  “Elaine,” said Melissa, “I'm sorry.”

  Elaine nodded.

  “I saw what you meant. I have been condescending to you.”

  “No,” said Melissa, “I overreacted.”

  “Well I don't know what I did to make you upset,” said Elaine. “I only hope you don't have to feel that way again.”

  Melissa gritted her teeth. As if Elaine being better than her and more gracious on top of everything helped her temper. She straightened her expression, easing her jaw.

  “I am sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled and insulted you.”

  Elaine smiled.

  “Well, it's over now. I can help you with your magic. If you want.”

  Melissa frowned. This time, thoughtful, not frustrated.

  “I can't seem to get the sprites to do what I command. They always overreact, a little like me.”

  Elaine covered her mouth with her hand, hiding an expression Melissa suspected was a smile.

  “I can help you with that,” said Elaine. “I had trouble with my sprites at the start as well.”

  “You had trouble matching?”

  “Yes,” said Elaine. “I am not a swift learner when it comes to magic.”

  “I learn most things quickly,” said Melissa, “Everything but magic.”

  “Melissa,” said Elaine, “I hope we can work together.”

  “I shouldn't have yelled,” said Melissa.

  Elaine smoothed her skirt.

  “Think nothing of it. Not anymore.”

  Melissa smiled, this time infected by the sense of a new beginning.

  She nodded to Elaine.

  “All right, so what should we do?”

  Elaine stretched an arm and shrugged.

  “Well, we can't go outside right now. I think Caferis is still out there.”

  “Caferis?”

  “The bird demon,” said Elaine. “I'm sure you saw him.”

  “The flock of crows,” said Melissa.

  “Blackbirds,” said Elaine. “Not exactly any particular species. He has been a servant in service to the Tanlos family, my family, for a long time.”

  Melissa arched an eyebrow.

  “A demon serves your family?”

  “Yes,” said Elaine, “the whole flock is one being, as I think you gathered. Caferis works for my father because he was bound to his family generations ago. He’s never liked me, though, for some reason.”

  “He was bound generations ago? Then, Elaine,” Melissa said, “how do you know if that's what really happened?”

  “He serves the family and he still resents us I think.”

  “Serving the same family for generations? I could see that getting old.”

  Elaine rolled her eyes.

  “I think my father treats him well, but a master can't be mortal when his servant is a demon. Mortals can’t handle his kind.”

  “You're probably right,” said Melissa. “I can't imagine having anything immortal follow me around.”

  “Or anyone follow you?” Said Elaine.

  Melissa frowned and turned to look out the window and over the balcony.

  What Elaine said made sense, but Melissa didn't like facing the knowledge she had been driving people away from her for a long time.

  “Let's talk about magic,” Melissa said, “shall we?”

  Elaine got out of Melissa’s borrowed chair. She walked to the foot of the bed. Turning to Melissa. Elaine folded her hands.

  “Let’s get to it.”

  Elaine and Melissa made their way into the passage between rooms.

  The hallway was still strewn with debris from windblown dust and leaves passing through the open windows the end of the corridor.

  Elaine walked to the windows, sidling past the gentle servants who moving the opposite direction. Evidently, none of them wanted the windows closed. Elaine sat down on the sill at the end of the hall.

  Melissa sat beside her. Together they looked into the yard. She spotted the flock of blackbirds flying about the trees in the yard. There was no one there to talk to them, but given what Elaine just told her, Melissa doubted the young witch wanted to get any closer to the demon.

  “So that's Caferis,” said Melissa.

  “Yes. I recognize him.”

  “Do many demons transform into animals?”

  “As far as I know,” Elaine said, “he's always been an animal. He doesn't have another form.”

  “Or at least you’ve never seen it,” Melissa said.

  “That’s possible,” said Elaine. “I've never seen it. However, I did read a book my family tree. The book spoke of how Caferis was given to us as a gift from above.”

  Melissa laughed.

  “I read a book about demons from Obnilen,” she said, “and they mentioned each of them could take the form of a swarm of animals.”

  Elaine nodded.

  “Yes, I suppose that describes him.” Elaine turned to Melissa. “Do you want to know a way to get your sprites to work for you?”

  Melissa nodded.

  Elaine smiled.

  “I can help you, but first I need to know what you want to do.”

  Melissa spread her hands and then formed the shape of the spear out of the air, miming the haft to the blade.

  “I want to be able to make the weapon,” she said, “One I’m used to wielding.”

  Elaine shrugged her shoulders.

  “It’s possible, if relatively simple.”

  “Sure you say that but how can I do it?”

  “First of all, you need to know another technique beyond matching if you want t
o train your sprites to perform an activity outside your body.”

  “And what technique is that?” Melissa asked.

  “Bow,” said Elaine.

  “Bowing? Like showing respect to a ruler?”

  Elaine nodded.

  “It is a simple technique, but one many mages eschew in favor of others. Normally, wizards are past the point of the basics of bowing. Bowing allows one to submit to a demon or spiritual being.”

  Melissa raised her eyebrows.

  “Submit? I'd rather fight.”

  “I know,” said Elaine, “but to fight the way you want, you'll need to submit to your sprites.”

  “I can submit to my sprites. All right.”

  “Your spirit consists of more than your sprites and banes. Many philosophers believe the two types of essence can be said to form the basis of the mind.”

  Melissa furrowed her brow.

  “Given that I am my sprites, after a fashion, what do I have to do to submit to them?”

  “I said many believe it, but it's far from true.”

  Melissa nodded, then frowned.

  “It's not true?”

  “No,” said Elaine, “It is common to think sprites and banes together form the human heart for those who know only basic hedge magic. The human mind, is separate from both forms of essence, however. Are you familiar with the concept of ego?”

  Melissa raised her eyebrows.

  “The concept of a self within the self?” she said. “This is philosophy, not magic now.”

  Elaine patted the windowsill between them.

  “Some philosophy can be solid as stone.”

  “Can I use my ego to address my sprites and banes?” asked Melissa.

  Elaine smiled.

  “That's the basis of more complex forms of magic. We have to communicate with them as equals to the ego if we are to use them as tools for purposes beyond ourselves. Once you can bow, you can send your sprites and banes from your body more easily, a little like the technique of separating Kadatz used to threaten you.”

  “Fascinating. I didn’t know sprites and Banes could think and feel independent of their owners.”

  “I don't know if they can, but they develop unhelpful attitudes when one approaches them from a position of superiority.”

  “Like me,” said Melissa.

  “A little,” said Elaine.

  Melissa folded her arms and stood up.

  “With the demon outside, we need someplace to practice. The basics of bowing can be taught anywhere. I learned them in a library.”

  Melissa glanced at Elaine.

  “You studied in a library because of the cold in the north?”

  “I started lessons in winter,” said Elaine, “and the books helped draw them out too. Sprites and banes are curious by nature. They will allow you to do much, but you have to teach them what you want.”

  “I can't exactly control mine yet, but can I with bowing?

  “I’m confident you can.”

  “Then let's get started,” said Melissa.

  “You have some books in your room,” said Elaine, “but I think we’ll be better served by the magic texts that my aunt is keeping in her study.”

  “Do you think she’ll be okay with that?” asked Melissa.

  “Maybe,” said Elaine. “On the other hand, maybe not.”

  “She wants to teach us at her own pace,” said Melissa.

  “True.” Elaine frowned, then climbed from the windowsill to her feet. “However, seeing as how we’re friends, now. I'll see what I can do to get you one of those magic books.”

  Melissa smiled.

  “Thanks. I already understand why you preferred to read on the journey south than talk to people in the caravan.”

  Elaine laughed.

  “Hey, you did the same when not on watch. It's practical lessons I have trouble with.”

  Melissa ran a hand through her waves of hair. The curls fell back into place at once. She shook her head.

  “We can't be that similar,” she said.

  “I’d heard it said a person has the most trouble dealing with what they are themselves.”

  “What's that supposed to mean?”

  “It means you don't like ourselves as much as you think you do, said Elaine.

  “Wait a moment. That makes sense to me.”

  Elaine’s eyes brightened.

  “You and just about nobody else,” she said. “It's kind of thought of as an absurd aphorism, at least in the north.”

  “Well, Elaine,” said Melissa.

  “Well, Melissa,” said Elaine.

  Melissa grinned.

  “Let's get to work.”

  Saben

  Saben and Rond returned a wounded Jaswei and the relic silver bell to the city. Jaswei slept on the way in the wagon most of the journey back, but she recovered somewhat by the time they reached the city. Soucot looked different on the road by morning then by sea at night.

  The city came to life within its high walls, outer orchards. Streets stank of filth and roared with the voices of vendors. All of it made for a stunning assault on the senses after the countryside.

  Saben helped Jaswei out of the wagon and guided her up the stairs to her room. Once he had her laying down, he left to take the bell to Eric. Rond waited behind in case Jaswei needed help.

  Alone, and feeling less for it, for once, Saben approached the mercenary inn. He entered through the small door in the alley, and let the little red-haired man lead him to the main room. The little man left him at the inner door this time. Saben approached the bar.

  Still alone, in the end, he thought, after such a long time, ever since my village was destroyed. Those demons will pay.

  He nodded to Eric as he drew close to the bar. Eric put down the glass he’d been polishing.

  “Do you have it?”

  “No one else managed to get it,” said Saben.

  He held bell out and then placed it on the bar. Eric whistled.

  “No one else came close.”

  “No one.” Saben smiled.

  Eric nodded. He swept the bell off the table.

  “I'll send the goods to the client.”

  “Good.”

  Eric glanced Saben.

  “What happened to the other two?”

  “They’re both alive if that's what you’re curious about,” said Saben.

  Eric nodded.

  “It was a dangerous task.”

  “Indeed.”

  “You’re more talkative than before,” said Eric. “Anything else change?”

  “I need my pay,” said Saben.

  Eric shrugged. He slid a bag of gold coins across the table.

  “That should cover it.”

  Saben inspected the bag.

  He counted thirty pieces of gold, enough to get the team through a whole month in the city.

  “I'll be back,” he said.

  Saben left the mercenary tavern much heavier of pocket and lighter of heart.

  He returned to the inn where the team was staying and went upstairs to join them in Jaswei’s room. Rond met him at the door, and let him inside. Rond closed the door behind them.

  Saben clapped Rond on the shoulder. He nodded to Jaswei.

  “Thanks for looking after her,” he said.

  “She may not need me for much longer,” said Rond. “She was seriously hurt, but she’s healing fast.”

  Jaswei set up in bed, she looked at them both.

  “You know, I understand you both now,” she said.

  “You heal fast,” said Rond.

  “Rond,” said Jaswei. “You didn’t know yet. I do everything quickly, including healing.” She looked down at the bandages on arm. “These are unsightly but I won't need them much longer.”

  Saben never saw Jaswei stay hurt for a long, even with wounds as serious as the ones she suffered from mausoleum guardians. He nodded at her. They made a good team. Unlike what most assumed, he was the striker, and she was the shield to resist d
amage. They both could perform either role to some capacity, but she excelled at fast recovery.

  “I'm going to my room,” he said.

  Rond nodded. Jaswei frowned.

  “Going already?”

  He shrugged. She looked flustered, face turning red.

  “I don't care.” She folded her arms. “Don't worry about it.”

  Saben turned and walked out the door.

  In his room alone, Saben sat before the case of the Azel scroll they’d stolen from the library. He studied the inlays on the surface of the case, recognizing patterns and symbols from many different traditions along its length.

  The scroll had to wait for now. He needed a place to learn to master it. Sacra forms were demon bodies. He would take care to learn not to call such power without practice.

  Saben wouldn't fall prey to the lack of caution that led many to disaster. He would have his revenge in its own time. The scroll before him would assure that.

  He picked up the sealed scroll case and returned to the hall outside. He carried the scroll and others might recognize it. He checked the hall before leaving his room. There was no one outside, so he went openly.

  He knocked on Jaswei’s door once again. Rond opened it fast.

  “You’re back,” he said.

  Saben shrugged. He shouldered his way past Rond. Jaswei sat up as he entered. Had something new awakened in her? So far, he rarely saw her show affection toward him or anyone else who traveled long with Jaswei.

  Perhaps saving her life had changed things between them. He hoped not, because she made a good ally and a poor romantic partner. Jaswei looked at the scroll in his hand.

  “You brought it here?”

  Saben nodded. He walked to the bed.

  “I thought you might want to see what we all endangered ourselves to get.”

  “Saben,” Jaswei said, “you plan to use it now?”

  “No,” said Saben, “I want to study it. I need assistance for that.”

  “That's wise,” said Jaswei.

  Rond nodded.

  “Seems that way.”

  “If I don't use the scroll,” Saben said, “I don't know if I'll ever be strong enough.”

  “Strong enough for what?” asked Rond.

  Jaswei and Saben exchanged glances. He nodded.

  “Strong enough to defeat an army of demons”

  “An army?” Rond asked.

  “Yes,” said Saben, “or at least a band.”